Born in 1564, William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright in the late 1500’s and early 1600’s. He was married to Anne Hathaway at the age of 18, where they had 3 Children.

Around the age of eleven, Shakespeare entered the grammar school of Stratford, King's New School, where he studied theatre and acting, as well as Latin literature and history.

Although the bubonic plague was spreading across Europe, Shakespeare was never affected with the disease. He was, however, concerned because the plague caused local theatres to shut down for weeks at a time.

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts..." —As You Like It, Act II, Scene 7, 139–42 As You Like It was first published in 1626, and was one of Shakespeare’s first known works.

Shakespeare wrote over 16 comedies, 10 histories, 12 tragedies (including Romeo and Juliet), and nearly 10 poems, listing him as one of the most influential writers/playwrights of all time.

Some scholars claim that members of Shakespeare’s family were Catholics, at a time when Catholic practice was against the law. Pope Benedict XVI (16)

Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613.